Unmanned Vehicles

Government electric vehicle efforts requires new charging infrastructure

Plans are being made for a national electric vehicle charging infrastructure, but for now, state and local governments are moving forward on their own.

  • By John Breeden II

DARPA aims to replace regular satellites with floating clusters

The Defense Department's research agency seeks to build clusters of small spacecraft that work together and share information.

  • By Henry Kenyon

Navy UAS program still flying high despite recent crashes

The Navy is forging ahead with key unmanned aircraft systems programs while trying to figure out what caused two of its Fire Scouts to crash recently.

  • By Henry Kenyon

DARPA's $2M challenge: Robots that drive, use tools, stop leaks

The research agency's latest robotics challenge aims to develop robots capable of handling emergency tasks in dangerous environments.

  • By Henry Kenyon

Navy's 'Hunger Games' lab will put robots to survival tests

The multiclimate LASR research facility features desert, rain forest and other environments for testing robots and unmanned vehicles in harsh climes.

  • By Kevin McCaney

DOD aiming to lift restrictions on unmanned flights in US airspace

The department is working with the FAA to develop tracking and collision-avoidance technologies to enable more domestic unmanned flights.

  • By Henry Kenyon

DARPA's cheetahbot breaks speed record for legged robots

The Cheetah, part of the agency's research into all-terrain robots, is designed to move like the speedy hunting cat.

  • By Henry Kenyon

Air Force aims to unify robot aircraft controls

The Air Force is doing more with less by developing control and sensor systems that work across many platforms and reduce the number of unmanned aircraft systems and controllers needed for operations.

  • By Henry Kenyon

More drones coming to airspace near you?

Keep your eyes on the skies. A bill working its way through Congress could dramatically increase the number of drones allowed in U.S. airspace.

  • By GCN Staff

Georgia Tech team builds snakebots that slither -- and rescue

Scientists at Georgia Tech are looking closely at how snakes move in order to make robots capable of slithering into nooks and crannies.

  • By Henry Kenyon

DARPA seeks ways to rebuild space junk

DOD is developing new ways to get high-resolution images of spacecraft as part of a plan to build new satellites in orbit from parts salvaged from deactivated crafts.

  • By Henry Kenyon

NASA aims to let UAVs fly in civil airspace

NASA is teaming with Rockwell Collins to develop a data link that will allow UAVs to coexist with commercial aircraft.

  • By GCN Staff

Navy's undersea robots get smarter

The U.S. Navy is developing new software programs to make its ocean-going robots more independent.

  • By Henry Kenyon

Sensors for drones? DARPA wants an app for that.

Mobile developers who have worked on apps to help people find restaurants and buy movie tickets could soon be working on smart-phone apps to help the military fly its drones.

  • By GCN Staff
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As robotics becomes more prominent, 'robot rodeos' are all the rage

A recent 'robot rodeo' for bomb squads in Oklahoma is the latest in a series of events that reflect the growing role of robotics.

  • By Kevin McCaney

UAV full-motion video changes the face of intelligence

Full-motion video from unmanned aircraft systems has proved a tremendous benefit to intelligence gathering in war zones.

  • By Kimberly Johnson

Military mission: Avoiding geospatial overload

Improved tagging and better standards are making it simpler to merge an overwhelming amount of geospatial images, maps and related data.

  • By Terry Costlow

Next-gen UAVs grow in form and popularity

Two fighter-jet sized unmanned aircraft are shaping up to be the future fast-attack platforms to come.

  • By Henry Kenyon

DARPA loses contact with aircraft traveling at Mach 20

Hopes for successful use of a hypersonic vehicle to aid the Defense Department's Prompt Global Strike plan were dimmed by a second unsuccessful test Aug. 11.

  • By GCN Staff

Homemade drone can snoop nearly anywhere

Two researchers introduced their WASP drone at the Black Hat security conference, and its potential for malfeasance is clear.

  • By GCN Staff

News Corp. has an eye in the sky: drones

The embattled News Corp., under fire in a phone tapping scandal, has added a new weapon to its news-gathering arsenal: drones.

  • By GCN Staff